The Ship Report

A Bit about Tugboats, Part 1 Today I'll answer a listener question about tugboats on the river. It's an interesting and broad subject, so much so that I had too much to share to fit into just one show. So today is Part 1 of "A Bit about Tugboats on the Ship Report." Tugboats haul cargo on barges on rivers and oceans, and assist tugs in port. They are vital in the maritime industr...

Two hometown ships leave Astoria for good Two familiar ships, the USCG cutters Steadfast and Alert, will soon be leaving Astoria for good. The reasons for each ship's departure are different, but we'll miss seeing them grace our waterfront by the Columbia River Maritime Museum. We'll talk about why these beloved vessels will no longer be here on the Columbia.

Ship at the Port of Astoria for repairs Today we'll take a look at our ship schedule on the river, including a bulk carrier that is at the Port of Astoria for engine repairs.

One more time...Red sky at night, sailors' delight? With profound apologies to listeners who heard the wrong show yesterday, I apologize for my "operator error." So, once more with feeling, here is the show that should have aired yesterday (with updated ship traffic and weather). Today we take a look, thanks to a listener question, at an old nautical saying that goes, "Red sky a...

The Lightship Columbia: a maritime hero in our midst Sitting quietly by the dock on the waterfront in Astoria is a ship that once played a vital and sometimes heroic role in the region's history: the Lightship Columbia. She's now an exhibit at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, but back in the day - she was a beacon and a refuge for sailors negotiating the intimidating and treacherous Col...

Our dynamic marine environment More about our problematic and perhaps confusing weather this week, as Hazardous Seas warnings continue today offshore, while conditions on land are pretty bland. We'll talk about why it's so important to keep your wits about you on land or sea when you are on or near the water. Things are always changing, in ways that can spell disaster for the uninformed an...

Hazardous seas make for a rough start to crabbing season Today is the first day that Dungeness crabbers in OR and WA can pull their pots, baited traps they set to "soak" in the ocean on Monday in the hopes they will be full of crab today. But the weather has chosen to make things difficult for fishermen at sea today: the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Seas Warning for area w...

USCG medevac from bulk carrier highlights protocols around medical emergencies Last week, two crew members were medevaced off a cargo ship by the USCG, as it transited the Columbia River. The incident offers a good opportunity to talk about the way crew changes happen on ships, and what happens to a crew member who is left behind in the hospital when his or her ship leaves to head to its next port...

As the crab fleet goes to sea, more hard work awaits As our Dungeness crab fleets up and down the coast head out to sea, our Ilwaco crabbers are especially on our minds. They worked so hard to get to the point where they could make this season opener happen, after a devastating facility fire destroyed equipment last week. Their reward is more hard work, in the year's worst weather. Today we&#3...

Crabpot "Dump Day" becomes a symbol of victory over tragedy Ilwaco, Washington's Dungeness crab fleet headed out to sea in the wee hours this morning, to start dropping baited crab pots ahead of the Thursday season opener here. Today is "dump day" - the day crabbers can legally start dropping pots, so they can harvest them on Thursday, they hope, full of crab. The fleet&#39...

Efforts continue to help Ilwaco's commercial crabbing fleet After a stunningly successful week of fundraising and gear-gathering, community efforts to help Ilwaco, Washington's Dungeness crab fleet regroup, after a devastating fire, seem to be well on their way. What remains now is to get that gear rigged and baited in time for a Monday "presoak" deadline. That's the day when...

Neighbors helping neighbors On Monday, a devastating fire destroyed a commercial fishing facility in Ilwaco, Washington, along with thousands of Dungeness crabpots belonging to Ilwaco's fishing fleet. With just a week till the opening of the crabbing season, things looked bleak. But a far-reaching and effective community response from other PNW fishermen, and the public, to gather gear and rai...

Ilwaco Cannery fire wreaks havoc on PNW coastal fishing community On Monday, a devastating fire destroyed the historic Ilwaco Landing Cannery building on the waterfront in the fishing community of Ilwaco, Washington. The building and dock were gutted, and thousands of Dungeness crab pots destroyed. It was a crushing blow to the local fishing community, slated to open the local crab season on Febru...

Unusual ship on the river today Today we'll talk about the USNS VADM KR Wheeler, a special kind of vessel that can pump fuel via a portable pipeline to land from miles offshore. She is owned by the Navy and is used to support US military operations. The Wheeler is headed to the Portland shipyard to a drydock there.

Who's on the river today? After a bout of dangerously cold weather, it’s nice to see ships moving again on the river. We’ll take a look at who’s on the river today, and what they’re carrying to and from ports.

A look at how and why ships appear on the daily schedule A listener wrote in asking to better understand what he was seeing on the ship schedule, and how and why ships appear, and don't appear, on the list from day to day.

Microclimates In this latest round of freezing weather, it seemed like different places, often close together, had really different weather and conditions. Part of the reason could be microclimates, where different areas experience the same weather system differently.

Listener question about a boat in the Astoria Anchorage A listener wrote in to ask about a small boat they saw approaching a ship in the anchorage. Today we'll talk about launch services and the valuable work they perform that is an integral part of the maritime chain of commerce.

Winter at Sea While land dwellers here on the coast were dealing with iced over roads and unusually brutal cold, mariners at sea offshore were handling their own kind of maritime hardship.

Who's traveling on the river today? Today, a look at who's coming and going on the river...we'll look at the ship schedule, discuss cargoes and talk about what ships have the fastest turnaround time in port. Certain types of ships spend days in port handling cargo, while others come and go sometimes in less than 24 hours. That's a tough go for tired mariners handling winter weather...

Light A quick recap of our crazy weather and some ship traffic, then a look at light: our annual returning daylight, and how it will all add up to long summer days in a few short months.

Difficult sea conditions continue, with King Tides in the mix to increase hazards Today we have a high surf warning, and tomorrow another round of King Tides hits the coast. Expect dangerous high surf and and unpredictable hazardous conditions on beaches. A good day to weather watch from a high up viewpoint rather than on the beach. We'll talk about what's happening and what to expect over...

Heavy Weather affects PNW Mariners and Beachgoers This Week Today, a look at this week's heavy weather, and the myriad hazards we'll see on beaches and area waterways. It's a good week to stay away from beaches, and go to high-up headlands to storm watch. But be advised, winds will be gusting to 70 mph. Big seas close to 30 feet will affect ship traffic, and make sea conditions hazardo...

King Tides 2024 We have another round of King Tides happening this week, Thursday through Saturday. We'll talk a bit today about tides and how they're calibrated. And how you can participate in what's called the King Tide Project in Oregon or Washington.

Dramatic rescue on the Columbia highlights dangers As we face sneaker wave warnings yet again on local ocean beaches this weekend, a reminder that the risks in this dynamic area in which we live are not confined just to the ocean. Today, a story about the heroic crew of the US Army Corps of Engineers dredge Yaquina, who earlier this year rescued a woman who had fallen into the Columbia River. They...